Spring Election Fever Grips Europe

A child puts a vote in a ballot box during a general election in Bratislava on March 10.

Temperatures have been unseasonably high in parts of northern Europe this March, but it’s May that political forecasters expect to turn out particularly hot — north and south.

Voters in no less than three European countries will be heading to the polls that month — with two crucial elections possibly taking place on the same day.

A much anticipated election in debt-ridden Greece looks most likely to be set for May 6, the same day that a likely runoff vote will be held in France if presidential elections in late April fail to deliver a winner with an absolute majority.

Further north, Ireland will be preparing for a crucial referendum on May 31 that could determine the country’s future in the euro zone and its eligibility to receive further bailout funds from its partners.